BREAKING: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Granite County

GRANITE COUNTY - The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Western to northern Montana effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 12:35 PM until 7:00 PM MDT.

Primary threats include scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5 inches in diameter possible. Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph are also possible with a tornado also possible

SUMMARY: Multiple splitting supercells should develop and spread north-northeast this afternoon. The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 60 statute miles east and west of a line from 50 miles northeast of Cut Bank MT to 45 miles west of Butte MT.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.